UNIVERSITY OF RICHMOND, Va. – University of Richmond Spiders QB Michael Strauss was one of 20 FCS football players named to the Walter Payton Award Watch List on Monday.

The Walter Payton Award, which is presented by The Sports Network, is given to the most outstanding player in the FCS. Strauss is the first Spider to make the list since Tim Hightower was a finalist in 2007.

Strauss enters the 2014 season coming off the greatest season for any Richmond quarterback in program history. Last year, Strauss set or tied 14 school records, earning Third-Team All-CAA honors.

The Key Biscayne, Fla. native completed 333-of-509 passes for 3,808 yards, 26 touchdowns and just eight interceptions. With those unbelievable numbers, Strauss holds the single season record for completions, attempts, yards and touchdowns, along with single-game records for attempts, completions, yards and touchdowns.

On the season, Strauss ranked fourth in the nation in completions and fifth in the country in passing yards.

The Walter Payton Award Watch List can undergo revision during the 2014 season. Ballots will be sent to a national panel of over 150 sports information and media relations directors, broadcasters, writers and other dignitaries following the regular season.

The top three vote-getters will be invited to the presentation of the award. The Sports Network will present the Heisman of the FCS on Dec. 15 at the national awards banquet.

The Sports Network also presents the Buck Buchanan, Jerry Rice and Eddie Robinson awards. The Buchanan Award honors the outstanding defensive player in the FCS, the Rice Award goes to the FCS freshman of the year and the Robinson Award is bestowed upon the FCS coach of the year.